Just had ourselves a small quake. A 5.7 only 8km deep 50km away in the Awatere Valley (next valley over from us. We are in the Wairau Valley. It was a sudden jolt with a few items falling off shelves but luckily the water stayed in the aquarium! The deeper quakes are long a rolling and start the water sloshing from one end of the tank to the other and can get messy.

We have now had several days of almost continual shakes. Grant and I have been away so only felt the first ones. Have just got home to find 3 puzzle pieces on the floor, a briefcase fallen over, and a bottle of caramel topping toppled in the fridge - but was saved by the cheese it hit so didn't leak everywhere Some have lost chimneys and house sidings and a dam is being checked after large cracks appeared in it and have widened hourly.The capital, Wellington, has been hit too with lots of windows breaking and falling masonry. Ah well, at least we have not had any tsunamis.

Carylnz wrote:Quakes are still continuing. One house has been red stickered (that means they are not allowed to live in it as it is too dangerous) and they are still arguing whether the dam will burst or not

There isn't a lot we can do. We have quake proofed the house, within reasonable limits, and dropped the aquarium water level by several inches. Mind you, in a big quake that won't make much difference but it is the thought that counts We have moved 5cm to the east apparently (this section of the country, not just our house).We have our emergency supplies ready too.

We were in Nelson (on the 4th floor of Nelson Hospital where my husband was learning how to inject himself, something he will have to do once a fortnight - damned rheumatoid arthritis!) when the room started swaying. We thought we had got away from them for the day but no, they had a 4.9 at home and Nelson (an hour and a half's drive away over a mountain range) got the edge of it. It probably took us longer to get there too as we have moved 5cm to the east and Nelson is to the west

Just been hit by another cluster of big quakes. A lot of damage in Seddon, 20 minutes away. Our supermarket is a bit messy too They have been varying between 4 and 6.2 on the Richter scale but only 5km deep so really being felt. They are rolling in one after the other. 30 in the past hour!But never fear, my 5000 piece puzzle is still on the table and the water level is still low in the fish tank so no splashing, or cracks. Power is back on and I have a cup of tea to revive me.My mum was thrown off her chair but is OK.I was in town in a large building where the local Lions were having a book sale when the 6.2 hit. Very scary as the lights started swinging and windows bowed in and out. No injuries reported so far thank goodness. Roads are congested as people try to get home, or out of the area. Slips on the main road south so it has been closed while they check it.Hope your family is OK Rockfish!

Seddon has been badly hit and State Highway 1 between us has been closed due to cracks in the road, boulders on the road, slips and dangerous overhangs. Two bridges further south have also been extensively damaged.